The Courtesan

Chapter 50

FLASHBACK

On the day they were supposed to enter the palace, the rain fell heavily, mashing up the roads. Most of them had arrived at the palace but many were still on their way, blocked by the elements. Even with that, the King didn’t look pleased.

And when King Stanley wasn’t pleased, someone always lost their head. This time, the person whose blood stained the silver sword was the unfortunate messenger who came to deliver the message.

Fear gripped the heart of all the ladies present. None of them wanted to ever enter the palace. However, if they dared not to come, all their families would pay for it. Andrella, who only had her sickly father left, couldn’t afford it. She steeled her resolve and waited for the king’s judgement.

Just when he was about to turn his attention to them, a young handsome man held the sword arm with enough strength to make sure it didn’t move. His white hair was striking, a unique feature of the royal family. He gave a charming smile.

“That’s enough, father. Let me have this.”

The whole kingdom knew there was only one person King Stanley listened to; His son, Dallas Stavenger. The man who would go on to be the next king and the father to Ariana Stavenger.

“I am very sorry for my father’s conduct. He isn’t feeling too well today. Please, let the servants lead you to your assigned quarters. I will handle the issue of the coming ladies as well.” His words were smooth and gentle, contrary to the harsh rain falling outside. To Andrella, he was like an angel.

As they were led out of the hall, she caught a glimpse of what was happening as the doors closed. She just managed to catch Prince Dallas’s head whipping backwards at the impact of his head being hit.

She wished to be the one to save him, be by his side. She steeled her mind and made the decision to win the princess trials at all cost. If only she knew that was the beginning of her misery.

“His highness is very handsome, isn’t he?”

There were a few people in the hall. And the woman in the purple dress was only talking to her. With the quality of her dress, she was definitely high nobility.

“Yes,” she replied, smiling.

“Of course someone like that deserves a great companion. A wrench like you who can barely afford a good carriage or good clothes is not wanted here.”

At this point in her life, Andrella was just a naive young woman entering society. She was barely 14 then and so, she was still not very exposed to the cruelty of people, especially the royals. That one statement destroyed the resolve she built just a moment before. However-

“A dress like that and you’re saying something about people being wanted? People like you who accept the Queen’s handout are people who are not welcome. Go back to whatever authoritarian hell you crawled out from.”

Hearing such words from a person that was of the same age with a powerful tone was stunning. So captivating, it was like Andrella had found her first love. The girl who spoke like this, well, it was hard to call her a lady. There was definitely something off about her.

“Gah, it’s the gorilla. Let’s go.”

“Hey! Who are you calling a gorilla?! Come back here! Hey!”

Andrella laughed. She couldn’t help it. The girl wasn’t scary, she was amusing.

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for saving me. My name is Ella. What is your name?”

“Oh, I’m Gertha. Aren’t you too small?”

“I suppose it’s because you’re too big. Where were you assigned Gertha?”

“With me. Where did you find this thing, Gertha?”

And so, it was the first time she met her; the woman who would become the future Queen of Casella; Diane. Needless to say, her first impression was not good.

“Don’t be mean Diane. She was just being picked on.”

“Gertha, don’t tell me you’re feeling sorry for her.”

“Would you stop? This is why I didn’t want to come with you.”

“Ai! Can’t I play around a bit? She’s so tiny.”

“Don’t play around with her. We have to go now. See you later, Ella.”

In those days, Andrella didn’t know what was going on. However, in the following days, she soon found out, with her resolve, there was no way someone like her could have a chance with the Prince. People like Diane and the other ladies were are the forefront with not just talent but their looks. Even if she sounded like a nightingale, he only gave a brief glance in her direction.

Andrella had the brief impression she was nothing. It infuriated her. Why? Just why did she have to end up like that? Her social status? She was a noble too?! Why couldn’t she have a chance?

In this situation, two things happened. One, she met the man who would become the recent king of Casella, Mival and came in contact with something that would end up ruining her entire future.

Commander Mival was very close with Prince Dallas. They became brothers on the battlefield and fought to defend their nation against the mountain tribes. It was a long time before the two ever came into agreement but in the brief respite of the battle, King Stanley decided to get a wife for his son.

At this time, Commander Mival was present in the palace and they ran into each other. Even then, as a child, she could perceive the bloodlust on him. Not only that, there was also the lust of the flesh emanating from him.

A hopeless child who was desperate to get her father out of his poverty, it wasn’t hard for him to charm her. He charmed her, stole her virginity and pulled her into the depths of hell. He made her sleep with other men in the name of love and power. Of course, he helped her father but he was mysteriously killed.

It was not until later that she found out that he had been killed by him. It was too late then. She was already in deep. She already thought he loved her, he would marry her in the end.

He never did. He made her his spy, made her his decorated prize. There was no escape. There was no one to help her. While she suffered like that, Diane was made the Crown Princess and Gertha, till then, Andrella had no idea what happened to her.

Before all that happened; while she was walking in the palace, she got lost and followed a trail, trying to find someone to lead her back when she heard it.

“Are you sure you want to kill your father?”

“Yes. It’s the only solution now. He’s becoming worse. We can face a mutiny if this goes on.”

“But you don’t want to dirty your hands?”

“I’m supposed to be a pillar of hope. I have to keep acting. Fake it till you make it, isn’t that what they say?”

“Hahaha! Aren’t you cute, your highness?”

“Don’t call me cute, Mival. Are you going to do it or not?”

“Hmm, I have a better plan. Why don’t we use the rat we have here now? Isn’t that right, my dearest?”

“Please! Spare me! I didn’t hear anything!”

“What do you mean? We’re not trying to kill you. We just need your help. Do you not hate the king?”

“N-No…”

“You’re a noble. I know most nobles are suffering because of the King’s harsh taxes. You can fix that. All you have to do is help us out a bit.”